CHERRYFIELD – Martha Ellen (Norris) Farren, 89, died Sunday, May 27, 2007, surrounded by family at a Milbridge health care facility. She was born Aug. 13, 1917, in Detroit, the daughter of the late Wallace A. and Sadie (Lowe) Norris. Mrs. Farren was a welder at the South Portland Shipyard for three years during World War II. After she worked in a Pittsfield Shoe Factory sewing and inspecting shoes. In 1950 she moved to Cherryfield and soon owned and operated the Salmon Lodge for many years, catering to fishermen and hunters where she was well known for her pies and roast beef dinners. She was an accomplished salmon fisher lady and holds the distinction of being the first woman to catch the first salmon of the year from the Narraguagus River. During this time she was very active in the Narraguagus Sal-mon Association and received honor membership for outstanding work accomplished in 1969. Most of all she was a wonderful loving mother and grandmother, whose love and compassion to those around her showed no boundaries. She was the wife of the late Roy E. Farren Jr., who died in 2005. Family members include her children, Nedra Colbeth and husband, Fulton, of Cherryfield, Dr. Gary J. Farren and his wife, Barbara, of Hampden, Cynthia Smith and husband, Paul, of Cherryfield and Vicki Crabtree of Cherryfield; a former daughter-in-law, Gloria Wilson Cavanaugh of Etna; grandchildren, Timothy Small and wife, Rebecca, Anthony Small and partner, Walter Moore, Thomas Colbeth, Kathy Colbeth, Kimberly Colbeth, Glendon Wilson and wife, Karen, Wade Wilson and wife, Denise, Danny Wilson and wife, Darlene, Brent Wilson and wife, Jean, Donna Graves and husband, Dale, Christopher Smith, Corey Smith and wife, Sissel and Aaron Crabtree and wife, Jean, many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Marion Norris of Palmyra and nieces, Bettina Emerson and husband, Roger, Norma Philbrook and husband, Kenneth, and Gelia Clark and husband, Winston. Martha was predeceased by her son, Wallace L. Wilson; and by her brother, Norman W. Norris. The family expresses their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Narraguagus Bay Healthcare for the kindness and compassion shown to Martha while she was in their care. A memorial service will be held 3 p.m. Friday, June 1, at Bragdon-Kelly-Campbell Funeral Home, 47 Maine St., Milbridge. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Burial will be held at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Narraguagus Bay Healthcare Facility Activities Fund, 3 Main St., Milbridge, ME 04658. www.bragdonkelly.com
MARTHA ELLEN
